The Reign of Greed eBook

“What does that matter to us?” rejoined
Isagani. “We don’t have to find out,
let them find out! Before we know how they are
drawn up, we have no need to make any show of agreement
at a time like this. There where the danger is,
there must we hasten, because honor is there!
If what the pasquinades say is compatible with our
dignity and our feelings, be he who he may that wrote
them, he has done well, and we ought to be grateful
to him and hasten to add our signatures to his!
If they are unworthy of us, our conduct and our consciences
will in themselves protest and defend us from every
accusation!”

Upon hearing such talk, Basilio, although he liked
Isagani very much, turned and left. He had to
go to Makaraig’s house to see about the loan.

Near the house of the wealthy student he observed
whisperings and mysterious signals among the neighbors,
but not comprehending what they meant, continued serenely
on his way and entered the doorway. Two guards
advanced and asked him what he wanted. Basilio
realized that he had made a bad move, but he could
not now retreat.

“I’ve come to see my friend Makaraig,”
he replied calmly.

The guards looked at each other. “Wait
here,” one of them said to him. “Wait
till the corporal comes down.”

Basilio bit his lips and Simoun’s words again
recurred to him. Had they come to arrest Makaraig?—­was
his thought, but he dared not give it utterance.
He did not have to wait long, for in a few moments
Makaraig came down, talking pleasantly with the corporal.
The two were preceded by a warrant officer.

The corporal asked Basilio his name, then scanned
a list. “Medical student, Calle Anloague?”
he asked.

Basilio bit his lip.

“You’ve saved us a trip,” added
the corporal, placing his hand on the youth’s
shoulder. “You’re under arrest!”

“What, I also?”

Makaraig burst out into laughter.

“Don’t worry, friend. Let’s
get into the carriage, while I tell you about the
supper last night.”

With a graceful gesture, as though he were in his
own house, he invited the warrant officer and the
corporal to enter the carriage that waited at the
door.

“To the Civil Government!” he ordered
the cochero.

Now that Basilio had again regained his composure,
he told Makaraig the object of his visit. The
rich student did not wait for him to finish, but seized
his hand. “Count on me, count on me, and
to the festivities celebrating our graduation we’ll
invite these gentlemen,” he said, indicating
the corporal and the warrant officer.

CHAPTER XXVII

THE FRIAR AND THE FILIPINO

Vox populi, vox Dei

We left Isagani haranguing his friends. In the
midst of his enthusiasm an usher approached him to
say that Padre Fernandez, one of the higher professors,
wished to talk with him.